Music Row Democrats working with the 50 State Strategy. I love this idea.

[madfloridian]

The Dixie Chicks Were Only The Beginning

With radio stations across the nation boycotting their music and outraged commentators predicting walkouts at their concerts, the Chicks were made to seem like very lonely liberals in the love-it-or-leave-it world of country. In hindsight, however, the group set off a political bombshell of an altogether different sort: They blew open the door for a remarkable number of closeted Music Row Democrats.

And from the MRD website:

I find it interesting that so many people are talking about Democrats in Nashville suddenly having the "courage" to admit that they're Democrats. Why should it take courage to admit membership in America's oldest existing political party? Many people consider the modern Democratic Party's first president to be Davidson County's own Andrew Jackson, 176 years ago.

To hear some people tell it, you'd think we were saying we're in the Nazi Party or the Communist Party. This demonization of Democrats is right-wing propaganda that goes way beyond the sphere of conservative talk radio. Maybe it did take a little courage for us to "come out," but if that's so, then that just proves that we were long overdue. We have to make up our minds that we absolutely will not let our enemies get away with lying about us, and the best way to start is for us to stop believing those lies ourselves.

Just as Republican PR has given birth to the notion that it is now unSouthern to be a Democrat, they have also politicized OUR MUSIC. In a recent article, journalist Beverly Keel wrote that one might listen to country radio these days and get the impression that they were hearing the music of the Republican Party. I found that upsetting because I knew she was telling the truth. I won't open up that can of worms, the politicization of country music, but anyone who saw the crowd at the Belcourt Cinema on February 5 knows that the business end of country music in Nashville is NOT solidly Republican!

Country music is the music of everyday people. Why would we NOT belong to the party that sympathizes with the underdog? Country music is the music about families and mommas and babies. Why would we NOT belong to the party that cares about health care for seniors and children? Why would people in the music of wide open spaces and green green grass NOT be in the party that wants to protect God's green earth from the polluting global-warming big shots that the Bush administration loves and defers to?

Here is the Music Row Democrats website:
Music Row Democrats website

Mobilized and in sync with the 50-State Strategy, according to a recent DailyKos Diary:

Earlier this summer we met with Howard Dean to discuss coordinating with his 50 state strategy. He believes strongly that the South is essential to restoring the Democratic party to the majority. Some believe we should abandon the South and pool our resources in safety zones. This is both bad for the Democrats, and bad for the country. It is also a failed strategy.

So we have launched a new campaign, a new community blog and a new fundraising drive so we can run ads in the South this season.

Here is the Rolling Stone article about the group and how they were influenced by the Dixie Chicks.

Nashville Pines for Dixie Chicks

In fact, that's the name of a high-powered Nashville advocacy group that sprang up in the wake of the controversy. The blackballing of the Dixie Chicks was a prime motivation in the founding of the left-leaning political action committee, says co-founder Bob Titley, a prominent talent manager (Brooks and Dunn, Kathy Mattea) and a confirmed Democrat. "There was a failure in our community to step up to their defense," he says.

The Music Row Democrats now claim more than 1,300 members, including key Nashville executives, songwriters and artists such as Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell. "The organization grew spectacularly fast," says country music historian Robert K. Oermann, a founding member. "People were hiding in corners, afraid to come out. Now the community is more mobilized."

[madfloridian]

1. Another news squib about this group...with the usual Repub comment

"Group gets message out with songs, blog

The Music Row Democrats group has tuned in to protest songs and a new blog to get its message out. The Nashville-based group, created during the 2004 election season, has a new album of political songs by songwriters and artists including some taking shots at President Bush and Republicans.

Former Vice President Al Gore makes a cameo appearance in a song by Robert Ellis Orrall, who laments that the 2000 election was stolen from "President Gore."

Gore chimes in, "Hey, man, I like your song but you need to get over all that stuff. Hey, this is a great neighborhood," at the end of the tune called, "Al Gore Lives on My Street." Orrall does, in fact, live on the same Belle Meade street as Gore.

The songs can be heard for free or downloaded with a $20 donation at www.musicrowdemocrats.com. "


And why do the Repubs always get to weigh in on our stuff. I don't see us being quoted that much in their articles.

"Tennessee's Republican Party chairman said the Music Row group was unsuccessful two years ago in helping John Kerry, who lost Tennessee by 14 points.

"I can't say I've ever heard of these aspiring artists," GOP state chairman Bob Davis said. "My guess is that 95 percent of country music fans haven't either. Everyone knows that a majority of country music fans gravitate to conservatives.""

http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/NEWS01/607190402/1006/MTCN0301

[hedda_foil]

2. This is so encouraging!

[Cha]

3. I've been away from

my computer for a whole day and this great news to come back to.. Thanks for posting mad!

I did not know about this and they got started in 2003 but only getting stronger. I love these MRDs! I'll be sending their link to a couple of peeps who will be very interested.